Genealogy Seminar at Sea:
Our Speakers and Their Topics

John Philip Colletta

Bio

John Philip Colletta is one of America's most popular genealogical lecturers. Entertaining, knowledgeable and experienced, he is based in Washington, DC, where he conducts workshops for the National Archives and teaches courses for the Smithsonian Institution and local universities. He also lectures nationally and is a faculty member of the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research at Samford University (Birmingham, AL) and the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (Salt Lake City). He has also been an instructor and course coordinator for the National Institute on Genealogical Research (Washington, DC), the Genealogical Institute of Texas (Dallas), and the Genealogical Institute of Mid-America (Springfield, IL).

His publications include two manuals -- They Came in Ships: A Guide to Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor's Arrival Record and Finding Italian Roots: The Complete Guide for Americans -- and numerous how-to articles . His latest book -- Only a Few Bones: A True Account of the Rolling Fork Tragedy and Its Aftermath -- is a history of the German-speaking merchants of the Mississippi Delta during Reconstruction. It is written around the mysterious destruction of his great great grandfather's country store, and its five unfortunate inhabitants.

Dr. Colletta has appeared on local and national radio and television, is featured in Episode Four of Ancestors, the ten-part KBYU-TV series, as well as its sequel aired in 2000. His Ph.D. in Medieval French Literature is from The Catholic University of America.

Topics

Getting the Goods! – Techniques and Skills of Effective Interviewing

Genealogical research is a logical progression from the known to the unknown. The first resource to exploit, therefore, is the memory of those who already know something about your family’s past: elderly relatives. Interviewing is the initial and fundamental aspect of genealogical inquiry because it lays the groundwork for all subsequent research in old records and published resources. But interviewing is not magic! It is more than simply asking questions and recording answers; it requires the mastery of skills and techniques. This lecture lays out the process from preparation before the meeting, through the interview itself, to necessary follow-up after the meeting. Interviewing is one of the most enjoyable and memorable aspects of gathering your family’s story, because you make a lot of fascinating new old friends!

Records of the Federal Courts: Drama in Your Ancestors' Lives

The records of the federal courts (National Archives Record Group 21) are woefully neglected by genealogists, because utilizing them requires an investment of some time and effort. However, the dedicated family researcher who makes the necessary investment will be rewarded in a big way, because federal court records contain all manner of information – facts found nowhere else! – about our ancestors: their finances, business dealings, personal and family relationships, their homes and property, personalities, disputes, triumphs and defeats. You cannot know what prizes await your discovery until you go hunting. And the hunt itself is great fun: every case is another human drama. This lecture provides an overview (in plain English, not legalese) of the federal court system, from its founding in 1789 through 1911; describes the records the courts created; suggests strategies for searching those records; and illustrates with lively examples (using overheads) the broad range of information they contain.

Private Archives: What They Are and How to Use Them

Private organizations, such as churches and synagogues, businesses, associations and societies, and educational institutions, create records regarding their activities and their membership. Over time these records accumulate, and eventually many institutions segregate them into an archives for preservation and research. These archives may be retained in the custody of the creating agency or a successor company, or placed in museums, university libraries, or many other repositories. This lecture explores the various kinds of private archives that exist, when and why you might want to search for one, and how to find one that may further your research. Five sample cases illustrate how using private archives contributed significantly to genealogical research.

How to Assemble Your Information into a Family Book

For genealogists who have been researching for twenty years, as well as family historians who are just getting started, this lecture addresses the joys and challenges of their final product: a written account of their discoveries. Deciding the form, content, scope and style of the account; selecting a numbering system; using proper documentation -- these are discussed to produce a work that is a reliable foundation for future researchers. Indexing, judicious use of illustrations, editing -- all are considered in this lecture that motivates family historians to commit their research findings to writing for future generations... before it's too late!

How to Build Historical Context and Write Biography

The biographical facts you discover about your ancestors did not happen in a vacuum. Our ancestors were born, lived, and died under specific physical circumstances at specific times in history. This lecture demonstrates how to turn biographical facts into the real-life experiences they were; how to gather together and evaluate evidence about a particular event, including its historical context, to "individualize" every ancestor in your family tree. Using Only a Few BONES as an example, this lecture illustrates how to construct the biography of an ancestor based on the salient theme, trait, conflict or idea of that life story.

Principles of Good Writing and Good Storytelling

Every ancestor's life is a story, a true story that family historians can bring vividly to life if they put into practice fundamental principles of good writing and good storytelling. This lecture discusses the essential elements of captivating stories: setting, action, characters and theme or conflict. It demonstrates vivid vocabulary that invokes the five senses—touch, taste, sight, hearing and smell; uses archaic words and expressions; and incorporates quotations from period documents. It illustrates how to hook a reader’s interest; employ strong verbs and effective adjectives; keep the ancestor always at center stage; employ literary techniques to create well-rounded episodes that contain suspense, surprise, romance, horror and humor; and suggest the ancestor's personality, temperament or character. Real-life stories may read as well as any best-selling fiction!

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Stephen J. Danko

Bio

Steve Danko was born in Albany, New York, has lived in Vermont, Nebraska, and Oregon, and now resides in San Francisco, California. He earned a Ph.D. in Botany and Plant Pathology from Oregon State University.

All of Steve's grandparents were Polish immigrants, which has led Steve to concentrate on 20th Century American Records and 18th and 19th Century Polish Records. His research in Poland has led to a appreciation for European History and Languages.

Steve writes a daily genealogy research weblog (blog) on the Internet, where he posts images of the documents important in his personal research and discusses the relevance of those documents in documenting his family history. In the course of writing his blog, Steve has reconnected with lost cousins in Poland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Steve is currently studying for a Professional Learning Certificate in Genealogical Studies from the National Institute for Genealogical Studies. He is a member of the National Genealogical Society, the California Genealogical Society, the Polish Genealogical Society of America, and the Polish Genealogical Society of California.

Topics

Genealogy Blogs: New Ways to Disseminate Genealogy Information on the Internet

One of the newest ways to publish genealogical information on the Internet is by the use of weblogs, commonly called blogs. Genealogy blogs include a wide range of subjects, including genealogy news, methodology, family history, and research diaries. Setting up and maintaining a blog is surprisingly easy and can provide benefits for your research in ways that other methods of disseminating genealogical information may fall short.

Eastern European Genealogy: Finding Ancestors amidst the Changing Map of Europe

Finding the place of origin of an immigrant is crucial to finding historic records for that immigrant's ancestors. Complicating matters are the changing borders in Europe during the past two centuries as the territorial acquisitions obliterated some nations from the map. Border changes in Europe affected not only the map of Europe, but also the records on which genealogists depend to document their ancestors' lives.

A New Look at Immigrant Passenger Manifests: Information in Passenger Lists You Might Not Know Is There

Immigrant passenger manifests provide family historians with important information about the origin, immigration, and destination of their immigrant ancestors. Passenger manifests after 1892 frequently include marks and annotations that can provide additional information about the experiences and activities of the immigrant. Some of these notations were made at the time of immigration; others were made years or decades later. Some describe corrections to the manifest, but other annotations can lead to other records that document the lives of the immigrant.

Give Us Our Eleven Days! How Calendar Changes Affect Genealogy Research

Various cultures throughout the world developed calendars to mark the passage of time, and they did so in different ways, recording the passage of time by reference to the moon, the sun, or both. Our modern calendar is based on the reforms instituted by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 to correct deficiencies inherent in the calendar then in use. These reforms were adopted in different countries at different times, and present special concerns to genealogists analyzing records before, during, and after the change from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar.

What Do You Do When the Records Were Destroyed? Finding Genealogical Records When Disaster Strikes

While searching for records of ancestors, one response that strikes genealogical terror in the hearts of family historians is "Those records were destroyed". Whether the records were discarded by family members, burned in a fire, or purposely destroyed by government officials, all is not necessarily lost. Substitute records may exist to document life events of our ancestors, and knowing where to find suitable substitute records is key to reconstructing our ancestors' lives.

Genealogy Gadgets and Gizmos: New Technology to Help in Your Research

New hardware, software, and on-line technology make finding, recording, and sharing information faster and easier than ever. Many of these advancements have found their way into genealogical research, enabling even a moderately technology-capable genealogist to take advantage of these new gadgets and gizmos. New technology enables genealogists to have access to their family history data from anywhere in the world, avail themselves of genealogy education at times and places of their choosing, collect documents and information more easily, and prepare professional-quality family books without the professional price.

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Michael J. Leclerc

Bio

Michael J. Leclerc is an active professional genealogical researcher, consultant, and author. He is Director of Special Projects at the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston. His research specialties include New England and Eastern Canada, as well as general research and methodology. He is a past board member of FGS and APG, and was co-chair of the 2006 FGS National Conference in Boston.

Topics

Advanced Probate Research

Probate records are one of the basic building-blocks of genealogical research, but many individuals (even those who have used them for years) don't have a complete understanding of them. Learn what these records are (and are not), why they are created, and how they are useful for family history research.

Beyond Localities: Using Maps, Gazetteers, and Atlases

Often used to identify places, these rich resources can be valuable assets for other areas of your research. Discover how to tap into the valuable information contained within these resources in these underutilized materials.

Did They Come from New England?

Many people throughout the country can trace their ancestors back into New England. Learn the basics of New England research, what the records are, where they are kept, and how they can be accessed.

Finding Your Ancestors' Homes: Deeds, Maps, and Other Records

Ever curious to know more about where your ancestors lived? This entertaining case study will show the pitfalls and pleasantries of utilizing many different types of records to locate ancestral homes.

Getting the Most from CD-ROM Databases

Recent advances in technology have made a large amount of information available on CD-ROM. Unfortunately many users do not take advantage of all of the options that software accords them to get the most out of the information contained on the CD. Learn tips and tricks for finding and using this information.

Writing Your Family History Using Microsoft Word

The advent of desktop publishing and computing has made it easier than ever before for individuals to write and publish their family history. Many are unfamiliar with the powerful tools included in commonly-used software like Microsoft Word. This session shows participants how to take advantage of these tools to create their own books, articles, etc. Participants will see exactly how these tools work, and how easy they can be to use (with a little practice).

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Paul Milner

Bio

Paul Milner, a native of northern England, is a professional genealogist and lecturer. He is the co-author with Linda Jonas of A Genealogists Guide to Discovering Your English Ancestors: How to Find and Record Your Unique Heritage (2000), and A Genealogist's Guide to Discovering Your Scottish Ancestors: How to Find and Record Your Unique Heritage (2002), both published by Betterway Books.

Paul has specialized in British Isles genealogical research for 25 years. He was raised in England and settled in the United States in 1975. He has been designing workshops and lecturing to a wide variety of audiences for over 30 years. He holds an advanced degree in Theology and is particularly knowledgeable about the church and its role in record keeping. As a genealogist he speaks on a variety of topics relating to research in the British Isles, the U.S. and research methodology.

Paul is currently the book review editor for the FGS FORUM and the BIGWILL newsletter, a board member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, and a member of several English Family History Societies. He is the past-president of the British Interest Group of Wisconsin and Illinois (BIGWILL), and a past board member of the Federation of Genealogical Societies and the Genealogical Speakers Guild.

Topics

English Parish Registers: How to Access, Use and Interpret

Learn how to access, use, and correctly interpret the information found in the christening, marriage, and burial registers of the English parish church. See examples of the problems to watch for and the clues given for further research. Learn what to do when your ancestor is not found.

Buried Treasures: What's in the English Parish Chest

The English parish was both an ecclesiastical and a civil jurisdiction. Both jurisdictions created informative records and kept them in the Parish Chest. This presentation will examine the breadth and wealth of information that can be found outside of the baptism, marriage, and burial registers.

Scottish Emigration to North America: Before, During, and After the Rebellions

Learn the reasons for emigration from Scotland to the U.S. and Canada and how it was influenced by events on both sides of the Atlantic. Learn where the emigrants settled, what records they created, and what tools are available for tracing your Scottish ancestors.

Finding Your Scottish Ancestors: The Big Five

We will examine available indexes, how to access and interpret the five primary records groups for Scottish research: civil registration, census, church records, probate and land records. These are the primary records you need when searching for anyone from the fifteenth to the twentieth century.

How to Build a Personal Genealogical Reference Library

Learn what books or types of books and resources you should include in building your personal genealogical reference library. A special emphasis will be given to new resources on the market. Suggestions will be made on how to get the most out of your library and use it for your own continuing education.

Overcoming the Dead End Doldrums

All researchers at some time enter the doldrums and feel they have reached a dead end in tracing a particular line. Learn clear steps to overcome the doldrums and get around the dead end.

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George G. Morgan

Bio

George G. Morgan has been working on his own family genealogy since he was ten years old in North Carolina, and he has traced his family lines across the southeastern United States and to the U.K., Scotland, and Ireland. He is the president of Aha! Seminars, Inc., a Florida-based company working with library cooperatives and consortia providing continuing education to hundreds of library employees each year. He is a frequent speaker at genealogical conferences at the local, state, national, and international levels. George’s speaking engagements take him all over Florida and the U.S., and to Canada and the U.K. He is an expert in Southern U.S. and English genealogical research and has led research tours to London, England.

His extremely popular and award-winning weekly genealogy column, "Along Those Lines ...", appeared each Friday at Ancestry.com for over 8 years and now appears as a weekly blog at his company’s Web site at ahaseminars.com. He is the prolific author of literally hundreds of articles for magazines, journals, and newsletters in many genealogical publications in the U.S., Canada, the U.K, Singapore, and elsewhere. He is the author of five books, including How to Do Everything with Your Genealogy, published by McGraw-Hill/Osborne, which has become one of the fastest-selling genealogy books in the past 20 years. His newest book for Ancestry Publishing, The Official Guide to Ancestry.com, is scheduled for publication in March 2007.

He is the co-host, with Drew Smith, of "The Genealogy Guys Podcast" each week at genealogyguys.com. He teaches distance education classes in genealogy librarianship for the National Institute for Genealogical Studies at the University of Toronto, and distance education genealogy classes for the University of South Florida’s Educational Outreach Program.

George is a past president of the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors (ISFHWE), and a former director of the Florida State Genealogical Society and the Genealogical Speakers Guild (GSG). He is currently a director of the Florida Genealogical Society of Tampa and editor of its newsletter. He also is currently serving on the Marketing Committee of the Federation of Genealogical Societies (FGS). He is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), the National Genealogical Society (NGS), the Society of Genealogists (SoG) in the U.K., the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors, the Genealogical Speakers Guild, and more than twenty other local, state, national, and international genealogical societies. He lives in Odessa, Florida, a suburb of Tampa.

Topics

The U.S. Naturalization Process and Documents: 1790 to 1954

Becoming a United States citizen was an important step in the enculturation of immigrants. While the documents and the basic process have changed little over the centuries, a number of variations in the rules make tracing naturalizations challenging. Learn methods for narrowing your search for your ancestors’ citizenship papers.

The Genealogist as CSI

The collection, analysis, and comparison of evidence are the key to genealogical problem-solving, analogous to the work of a crime scene investigator. Evidence is gathered and assessed, and hypotheses tested, until solid conclusions can be reached. Learn step-by-step methodologies to succeed as a genealogical CSI.

How to Get the Most from Ancestry.com (Parts 1 and 2)

Ancestry.com is the largest provider of genealogical databases in the world, and growing every month. Learn how to effectively use the search facilities, family trees, message boards, and the Ancestry community from the author of the book The Official Guide to Ancestry.com and probably the most knowledgeable user of all aspects of Ancestry.com.

"Push" and "Pull": The Reasons for Migration

There are numerous factors influencing out ancestors' migration from one place to another. There had to be reasons for relocating, and reasons for choosing to settle where they did. Learn why history, geography, political, economic, social, and meteorological study is important and how they factor into your ancestors' movements.

Vintage Postcards and Stereographs in Your Research

Visualization of your ancestors' environment generates a stronger understanding of their lives. Vintage postcards and stereographic images are available online, in antique stores, and at booksellers for nearly every place in the world from 1860 forward. Learn how to find and use these images to complement your research.

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Donna M. Moughty

Bio

Donna Moughty, a Professional Genealogist and former Regional Manager for a national technology company, has been conducting family research for over 15 years. She teaches classes for beginners and lectures on a variety of subjects including Internet, Irish research and computer topics. In addition, she provides consultations, research assistance and training.

Donna attended the National Institute for Genealogical Research at the National Archives, the Third and Fourth Irish Genealogical Congress in Ireland and the Salt Lake Institute: Irish Research. She is a member of Association of Professional Genealogists and Coordinator for their Professional Management Conferences, Treasurer of the Genealogical Speakers Guild and a Delegate to the Federation of Genealogical Societies. She is also past president of the Middlesex (CT) Genealogical Society.

Topics

Jumping the Pond: Finding the Origins of Your Immigrant Ancestor

Before you fly away to your ancestor’s county of origin, you will need to do your homework. Whatever the nationality of your immigrant ancestor, to effectively search you must begin at home. The most important piece of information is the town or parish where your ancestor was born. If you don’t know that information you must dig through records at home to harvest as much information as possible. This lecture will look at the types of records available in the United States that might help you identify a town of origin in the native country.

Getting the Most Out of FamilySearch.org

The FamilySearch website is typically one of the first sites visited by individuals when they begin their research, however, many never get past the Search tab, and never fully understand the results they get. This lecture will look at the evolution of FamilySearch, from CD to Internet, focusing particularly on the additional resources offered, and the use of the Library Catalog. Explanations will be given on the various databases, so participants will be better able to evaluate the data, as well as providing strategies for searching.

Saving A Life: Your Family's Health History

This lecture is designed to provide information on compiling your family health history, even if you have never done any family history research. It will look at how to collect the information, including the types of documents to look at; as well as, how to report the information to your physician and family.

From Rubble and Ruin: Locating Famine Immigrants in Griffith's Valuation

Fire and government destruction of early census records left a void for Irish Researchers. But creative genealogists have learned to use Griffith's Valuation as a key resource in finding famine emigrants.

Lights, Camera, Action: Directing and Producing Your Family History Video

This lecture will show how to use video footage, photographs, recorded interviews and music to produce an unforgettable family story to share at gatherings of the kin.

Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are! Hide and Seek on the Internet

Is your ancestor hiding on the Internet? It’s the world-wide web – how ever will you find the mischievous ancestor who hides regardless how hard you seek? Learning how the Internet is organized and the best tools to use probably will make it harder for him to hide from you. This lecture includes how to use various search engines for the web and for specific sites.

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Laura G. Prescott

Bio

Laura G. Prescott is a professional researcher, writer, and speaker. She is former Director of Marketing at the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston. Originally from Charleston, West Virginia, she has lived in New England for over thirty years. She graduated from Dartmouth College in 1980 with a B.A. in History.

Laura is the genealogy project manager for the Nickerson Family Association of Chatham, Massachusetts. She lectures and writes for national audiences on a variety of genealogical topics, most specifically the use of personal documents and manuscripts in genealogical research, genealogy on the Internet, and computerized genealogy for Mac users.

Her articles have appeared in Ancestry, New England Ancestors, Genealogical Computing, NGS NewsMagazine, and Digital Genealogist.

Topics

Treasures Within the Ivory Tower: Finding Family in Academic Archives

Even if your ancestors didn’t attend college, you may find family records, photos, manuscripts, and documents about them and their communities within academic archives! Learn where to look, what you can find both online and off, and the most efficient techniques to dig into some of the oldest and most rewarding repositories available.

Timelines: Placing Your Heritage in Historical Perspective

Create outlines of your ancestors’ lives with timelines. Match historical events to a person’s life, or synchronize one ancestor’s life events to another’s. Examples presented will use genealogical software, as well as common text and spreadsheet programs, to solve puzzles and build the history of a family’s past.

The Rest of the Story: Using Manuscripts to Create a Family History

Tap into great repositories of historical treasure! Discover where to find family in special collections archives, and understand why manuscripts and artifacts are essential to building your family’s story, and for making it interesting.

Researching Your Ancestors on the Internet

We’ll explore a dozen websites – some well-known, others not - to find information about your family, and to understand their history. Learn how to go beyond the popular and be surprised at what may lay hidden when you dig a little more deeply into online resources you thought you knew about already.

Spinsters & Widows: Gender Loyalty within Families

Your female ancestors and their sisters had few public rights, but often wielded an unspoken power in deeds, wills, and personal accounts. Probe the records and discover maiden names, relationships, and the voices of women in nineteenth-century America.

Locating Digitized Images Online

From maps and historical records, to personal documents and photos, we’ll explore how and where to find digitized images and hidden treasures on websites across the Internet. Then we’ll discuss how to use them to their best advantage in your research.

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Paula Stuart-Warren

Bio

Paula Stuart-Warren is an internationally known lecturer, writer, and researcher who is looking forward to sharing this cruise experience with you. She is a graduate of the National Institute of Genealogical Research held at the U.S. National Archives. She has been certified by the Washington DC-based Board for Certification of Genealogists and has passed every five-year renewal assessment. She is a firm believer in continuing education in genealogy and strives to keep up-to-date by participating in national and local conferences, as well as by reading the publications of many genealogical and historical organizations.

Her historical and genealogical presentations are lively, yet professional and educational. A skilled lecturer, Paula is comfortable with her audiences and presents practical and accurate information. She is accessible for questions at her presentations and enjoys discussing genealogy with participants. The visuals and the handout material reflect research in a wide variety of locales. Her lectures have taken her to most states in the U.S. and to Canada. Since 1997 she has been a Course Coordinator for the annual Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy's American Genealogy Records and Resources week-long intermediate course, which includes classroom instruction and unique one-on-one assistance in the Family History Library. She has coordinated courses and taught at other multi-day institutes.

She is a columnist for Ancestry Weekly Journal and has written articles for the Minnesota Genealogist, Family Tree Magazine, NewEnglandAncestors.org, NGS NewsMagazine, and Ancestry Magazine. She co-authored the best-selling Your Guide to the Family History Library. Paula served two years as a national officer of the Association of Professional Genealogists, six years as a board member of the Minnesota Genealogical Society, and was Co-Chair of the memorable September 2001 Federation of Genealogical Societies Quad Cities Conference. She serves on the FGS Long Range Conference Planning Committee.

Paula is descended from ancestors representing eight different countries. These ancestors, descendants, and the cousins resided in many U.S. states and in several Canadian provinces. She has also researched her children’s Southern roots and the varied roots of her children’s spouses. A native Minnesotan, she is the mother of three adult children and has many beautiful grandchildren. Two of her children are involved in historical research.

Her research specialties include the Midwestern and Plains states, the Family History Library, the U.S. National Archives, the New England Historic Genealogical Society, American Indians, and unusual records. Paula has worked on-site in courthouses, state archives, public and university libraries, and historical societies all across the U.S.

Topics

Railroad Records and Railroad History: Methods for Tracking

Did great-grandpa traverse this U.S. as he worked for the railroad? Which railroad and where did it run? Are there railroad records that may tell us about his ancestry or where he later went? Visuals and references demonstrate the wealth of historical materials available all across the U.S. along with the specific locations of many records. When this lecture is over you will know where to turn to find out more about the railroad, its records, and how to determine current day access to the records.

The Three Rs: Reading, 'Riting, and Research in School Records

Census records, military files, courthouses, cemeteries. . . resources that genealogists use in tracing their ancestors. The census taker only came around every ten years and each ancestor may leave behind only one birth, christening, marriage, and death record. School records are kept every day, every month, every year. The material covered in this lecture will also be helpful if you are involved in organizing a school reunion or in writing a school or community history.

The WPA Era: What it Created for Genealogists

During tough economic times in the 1930s and 1940s, government programs put many people to work. The Work Projects Administration created a goldmine of records useful in genealogical research. WPA record transcriptions, courthouse and manuscript inventories, indexes, city/county histories, cemetery burial information, and histories of businesses and families may exist for your ancestral locales. We will also discuss some modern surveys and the online explosion of WPA materials.

Organizing Your Genealogical Materials: Methods to Keep It Current

How tall are your stacks of genealogical materials and in how many rooms are your papers and books stored? Is it time you made sense of your materials, organized them so they can be found, and determined what is important to keep handy? How should you store your important materials? Just starting your research? Why not organize sensibly from the beginning? This session will help you deal with these questions including some “lazy day” methods to keep you on top of your filing.

Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Research

Stumped by missing or split families, city dwellers, lack of extended family, or often-mobile families? Some researchers neglect the more current relatives thinking there aren’t as many resources. Sure, there are fewer censuses, but many other records exist and are often more standardized. More courthouses regularly created indexes. Add in today’s explosion of online catalogs, records, indexes, and finding aids. Research is research, no matter the time period. Finding a living relative with information to share or finding out more about a relative you knew is rewarding and doable research.

Research Nugget in the Midwest: The Allen County Public Library

42,000 square feet of research nirvana on open shelves. The newly expanded Genealogy Center in Fort Wayne is the second largest genealogy collection in the world. Almost 40,000 published family histories, over 4,000 genealogy and history periodicals, census, county histories, state censuses, resources for other countries with an extensive Canadian collection – and thousands of other items. Nearby hotels, easy access by car, bus trips, digital copies, microfilms galore, and knowledgeable staff – learn about it all, how to make the most of a visit, and what can be done if you can’t make the trip.

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